Fertilizer mixer and dispenser



March 21, 1950 A. BRODIN EEETILIZER MIXER AND DISPENSER Filed March 2,1946 APV/0 15H00/N,

[N V EN TOR.

Application March 2, 1946, Serial No. 651,604

s claims. (o1. 25a-272.6) i

y'Ihisi'nvention relates generally to dispensers andmore particularly todispensers of the type which areadapted to beused in the mixing andapplication of materials such as fertilizer for use with-relativelysmallfgardens and lawns. i

.fgIt hasvlong b'een recognized that it is Avery desirable =to apply'fertilizer in a liquid' form so thatit;- may be more-readily absorbedand used byzplants -and lawns; Forz'many years it has been customaryfVtoit/vater plants immediately after applying fertilizer around them,thereby dissolving'the soluble materials in the fertilizer anddistributingthem more evenly. At best, however, this-has .been a.ratherunpleasant job, and it has often-been difficult to apply-,thefertilizer evenly andin the properamounts. Liquid fertilizers have'beendeveloped .which have simplified the proper application of thefertilizer, but this has generally been done at the cost of requiringrather expensive equipment. With the advent of synthetic or manufacturedfertilizers which are completely soluble in water, it hasbecome possibleto provide the necessary fertilizing material forxplants in ahighlyconcentrated form which maybe diluted to the desired concentrationandthenapplied as a constituent of the irrigating water-l 4 If an areaof any considerable size is to be fertilized, however, this hasrequired,

largecontainers inwhich to mix the solution, 1

or-has required repeated mixings of .smaller amounts. 3 vThe simplestand most desirable :methodfof applying such fertilizer is byinclud.-ing` it. in the firrigating water, andby making .this .addition tothewater in such a manner that the usualirrigation practices may becontinued. fIt isrtherefore themajor object of this invention to providesuch a dispenser which may be connected to the usual garden hose whichis then used in the conventional manner, to supply both fertilizerandirrigation water to plants and lawns. AIt is` a further object vof theinvention to provide ,sucha"dispenser vwhich is light in weight andsimpleto operate so that it maybe readily used'by anyone; l

.1: It Ais stillI another object of the invention to provide such adispenser which may be easily and-cheaply'manufactured and may be usedwith any desired kindvof soluble, solid fertilizer. ,These and otherobjects of the invention will become lapparentfrom the yfollowingdescription of -apreferred formthereohand from the draw? lingsillustrating that. form in which:

a` perspectiveviewof the dispenser as it appears in f, use, with a hoseconnected Fig. 2 is a cross sectional view ofthe dispenser, showing therelative location of the fertilizer; and f Fig. 3 is a perspective viewof the cap and the screen container adapted to receive and hold thefertilizer.

Referring now to the drawings,'and particularly to Figs. l and 2thereof, the numeral I0 indicates a housing formed of sheet metal, orother suitable material, and preferably cylindrical in shape for ease inmanufacturing. The container Ill is completely, closed at its .lower endby a bottom II, and is provided with an inwardly extending annular lipI2 at its upper end. An insert I3, in-the form of a flanged bushing,having screw threads on its interior surface, is inserted in theopeningformed by the lip I2, and is securely held to the latter as bywelding. To complete the closure of the container I0, a cap I4 isprovided which includes a nat circular plate I5 .to which is attached ascrew threaded, cylindrical portion I6 adapted to engage the threads ofthe insert I3. The disk I 5 preferably extends beyond the cylindricalportion I6, and a gasketfor washer lILI is placed between thisprojecting portion and the insert I3 so that a fluid-tight connectionmay bek made. A handle I8 is securely attached to the'disk I5 so thatthe entire container? I0 may be. readily lifted, and the cap I4 may beeasily disengaged from the container by grasping the handle andunscrewing lthe cap from the insert I3.. The container I0 is completedby providing apair ofjuidcouplings 20and 2l adapted to be connected tothe usual garden hose so that watermay flow into the container throughthe coupling 20, fill the container with water, and then be dischargedthrough coupling 2l into a second section of hose l22 which may be usedin irrigating lawns and plants in the customary manner. By having thecouplings 20 and 2| separated vertically and horizontally, as indicatedin the drawings, it is necessary for water to circulate throughout theentire'container I0; and all the Water within the container will thus becontinuously changed.

To hold the fertilizer in intimate contact with the water within thecontainer I0, a basket 23 is provided which is preferably formed of wirescreening, perforated metal, or other foraminous material into whichsolid fertilizer 24 may be placed. The fertilizer 24 may be in the formof a cylinder, or may be in the form of smaller briquettes or largegranules, but shouldV be in pieces 'which are vmuch larger thanthe'holes in thexbaket ,2.3.1,y Byimakms. the. basketli of' screening,water may circulate freely through it and come into intimate contactwith the fertilizer 24 containedtherein, dissolving the latter andenriching the water which is then discharged through the coupling 2 I.The basket 23 is preferably cylindrical, and is closed at its lower endby additional screening 25 so that the fertilizer may be completelysurrounded by water. In order to secure the benets ci the open meshbottom 25, it follows that Lthe latter should be supported above thebottom l l of the container l0, and this is done by forming the basket23 slightly shorter than the container IG and supporting the basket fromthe cap I4. I

This support may be provided in any of a number of ways, but one of themost convenient methods is to provide a sleeve 26 to which the upper,open end of the basket 23 is held by soldering or in some otherconvenient manner. At its upper end, the sleeve 2S is provided with apair of outwardly extending ears 21 whose overall dimensions are suchthat they will fit within the cylindrical portion l5 of the cap I4. Apair of angle brackets 28 are attached to the interior surface of thecylindrical portion IB with one of the arms of the angle abutting thecylindrical portion, and with the other arm parallel to the Vdisk l5 butspaced a suiiicient distance therefrom to receive an ear 21 and supportit without binding. The circumferential dimension of the ears 21 is suchthatthey will be held firmly against the disk l5 without any tendencytowob'- ble, and the angles 28 are of a suiiicient length to hold .theears firmly. In the form shown, two ears 21 and two angles 28 areprovided, but it will be apparent that any desired numberof ears andangles may be used, or that some other form of attaching means may beused, such as screw threads, or a bayonet catch. The form shown,

however, is the preferred form, since it is very simpleufrom aproduction standpoint, and the basket 23 need be rotated onlyapproximately one quarter of a turn to engage or disengage the cap I4.

When `the device is to be used, the cap i4 is 'unscrewed from thecontainer I0 and the cap and basket 23 are removed. By removingithe capi4 from the basket 23, the latter may then be filled with any desiredform of watery soluble solid fertilizer, Aand the cap then replaced onthe basket. The two are then replaced in the con'- tainer lll, andthecap l4'is tightened until a fluid-tight seal is provided between it andthe insert i3,- the gasket l1 being compressed in this process. A hose,having one end connected to a source of water under pressure, isattached to the coupling 2li; and an additional length of hose 22 isconnected to the coupling 2i. When the water is turned on, the containerl0 will be filled to the level of the coupling 2l, and water will thenbe discharged through the hose 22, which may then be used in the usual.manner to irrigate the plants.

VWith the lling of the container I0, the fertilizer contained in thebasket 23 has been surrounded by water and has started to dissolve,thereby enriching the water within the container. This enriched water isdischarged through the vcoupling 2l and is applied tothe lawns or plantsin the manner just described. By making the container I relatively largeas compared with the couplings and 2| the rate of iiow of water throughthe container, as measured in linear feet per minute, will berelativelyslow, and there is thus less tendency :forr the flow of waterto force 4 small pieces of fertilizer through the openings in the basket23 and carry them out the coupling 2| from whence they will bedischarged onto the plants. Furthermore, this permits the fertilizer tobe distributed more uniformly throughout the liquid in the container sothat a more uniform product is discharged through the coupling 2l. It' afertilizer of limited solubility is used, this limited rate of flowthrough the container I0 ineures that' asaturated solution of`fertilizer is available for irrigatng purposes. If the fertilizerSolving of thefertilizer below the water level will permit that abovethe water to move downwardly until it too is completely submerged, andfinally,

vcompletely dissolved.

It Awill be seen that a simple, economical, and

' efcient fertilizer mixernhas been provided which can be used by thoseunfamiliar with mechanical devices. There are no moving Vpartswhch canget out'of adjustment, andlby making the members of corrosion-resistantmaterial, the device should last indenitely.

While a preferred form of this invention has been shown, it is to beunderstood that modifications thereof are possible, and the device isnot to be limited to the particular form or arrangement of parts hereindescribed and shown, except as limited by the following claims.

I claim:

1. A mixing and dispensing apparatus which includes: a cylindricalhousing closed at its lower end andhav-ing an inwardly projecting ilangeat its upper'end; a iiuid inlet coupling in the side of said housingnearthe lower end thereof; a -fluid voutlet coupling in the side of saidheus-l ing near the top thereof, said outlet couplingbeing-substantially opposite said inlet coupling; an annular memberprovided with screw threads on the inner surface thereof, mounted with afluid-tight connection to said inwardly projecting ange; a removable caphavingscrew threads formed therein adapted to engage vthe screwthread'sofl said annular mem-ber toform a fluidtight seal therebetween;supporting members attached to said cap and comprising angle membershaving one arm thereof parallel to the lower ysurface of said cap andspaced therefrom; a cylindrical container having sides and bottom formedof, a foraminous material; and outwardly projectingears formed at theupper end of said container and adaptedlto be removably held by saidsupporting members, wherebysaid container maybe removed from said capand filledl with a soluble material, and said container may be held bysaid cap so as to extend within said heus ing, whereby said material maybe dissolved by a'iiuid passing through said housing.

2. A mixing and dispensing apparatus comprising, in combination; ahousing having an opening in the top endk thereof, a fluid inlet and afluid outlet'connected into said housing, a ring shaped member fixed tosaid top end of the housing along the margins of said opening, said ringshapedl member havingl screwthreads on the inner surface thereofl aremovable cap having screw threads formed thereon adapted to Vengage thescrew threads of said ring shaped member, a container of foraminousmaterial adapted to be lreceived in said housing through said ringshaped member, and vmeans forming a 'quick detachable mounting for saidforamlnous container on the underside of saidJ cap. entirely independentof said ring shaped member, sol that said foraminous container issuspended from said cap into the interior of said housing when the capis screwed into said ring shaped member on the housing, and is liftedfrom the housing as a unit assembly with the cap when the cap isunscrewed and lifted from the housing, said quick detachable mountingmeans permitting said foraminous container to be readily de tached fromsaid cap after the two have been removed from the housing in order topermit refilling.

3. A mixing and dispensing apparatus com prising, in combination, ahousing having an opening in the top end thereof, a fluid inlet and auid outlet connected into said housing, a ring-shaped member on said topend of said housing along the margins of said opening, a removable capadapted to be mounted on said housing in engagement with saidring-shaped member, interengaging locking means on said ring-shapedmember and on said cap manually operable to detachably connect said capto said top end of said housing, a container of foraminous materialadapted tov be received in said housing through said ring-shaped member,and quick-detachable inter-engaging mounting elements on the top end ofsaid foraminous container and the underside of said cap, said mountingelements being entirely separate and independent of said housing, sothat said foraminous container is suspended from said cap into theinterior of said housing when the cap is mounted on said housing, andis-lifted from the housing as a unit assembly with the cap when the capis disconnected and lifted from the housing, said quick detachablemounting elements permitting said foraminous container to be readilydetached from said cap after the two have been removed from the housingin order to permit relling.

4. A mixing and dispensing apparatus comprising, in combination, ahousing having an opening in the top end thereof, a iluid inlet and auid outlet connected into said housing, a ring-shaped member on said topend of said housing along the marginsA of said opening, a removable capadapted to be mounted on said housing in engagement with saidring-shaped member, interengaging locking means on said member and onsaid cap operable by virtue of twisting of said cap todetachably connectsaid cap to said top end of said housing, a container of foraminousmaterial adapted to be received in said housing through said opening,and quick data hable interengaging mounting elements on p end of saidforaminous container and nderside of said cap lockingly engageable'flative twisting movement, said mounting nts being entirely separateand independsaid housing, so that said foraminous container is suspendedfrom said cap into the interior of said housing when the cap is mountedon said housing, and is lifted from the housing; as a unit assembly withthe cap when the cap'v is disconnected and lifted from the housing;-said quick detachable mounting elements pe mitting said foraminouscontainer to be readetached from said cap after the two have beenremovedfrom the housing in order to perrefilling.

5'.v A mixing and dispensing apparatus which (includes: a housing closedat its lower end and having an inwardly projecting ilange at its up-`per, end, a fluid inlet and a fluidV outlet con- Uected into saidhousing, a ring shaped mem- .berprovided with internal screw threadsmounted on said llange, a removable cap'having screw threads formedtherein adapted to engage the screw threads of said ring shaped memberto form a uid tight seal therebetween, supporting.. members attached tosaid Cap and compris- .ingr angle members having one arm thereof par-Afall'vgli'zo the lower surface of said cap and spaced "erefrom, aforaminous container adapted to fbefgreceived in said housing throughsaid ring fshaped member, and outwardly projecting ears formed at theupper end of said container and adapted to be removably held by saidsupport- I ing members, whereby said container may be f removed fromsaid cap and filled with a sol- .u'ble material, and said container maybe held byfsaid cap so as to extend within said housl' Number l, ing,whereby said material may be dissolved by a fluid passing through saidhousing.

ARVID BRODIN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the filefofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date 113,844 Brauer Apr. 18, 1871 243,713 LePage July 5, 1881 887,856 Sieben May 19, 1908 1,321,037 Hedrick Nov. 4,1919

